The Indian Hockey Federation has declared that it would pick the final squad from a 4-team Independence Cup Hockey Tournament in Chennai from August 12-16.

Buoyed by the Bronze winning performance of the senior team in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), focussing on the World Cup 2006 in September, is putting the players through tough preparatory camps.

Even as coach Baskaran is busy preparing the probables for the World Cup at a camp in Hyderabad, to be shifted to Chennai, the IHF in its bid to give the players as much of match practise as possible, on Wednesday announced that it would pick the final squad for the World Cup from a four team Independence Cup Hockey Tournament in Chennai from August 12 to 16.

IHF Secretary K Jyothikumaran announced that Indian Team, Indian Development Team, Indian Junior Under-18 team and Tamil Nadu State Team would be participating in the tournament.

"This tournament is being mainly organised for giving enough match experience and will see tough competition. Based on the performance of the players in this tournament, the final team for representing India in the World Cup 2006 and SAF Games will be selected", Mr Jyothikumaran said.

Meanwhile, the preparatory camp for the Indian Developemnt team began at the astro turf stadium in Chennai under Chief Coach Clarence Lobo and Md Riaz.